RIBBLE Valley MP Nigel Evans has criticised the decision to grant legal aid to extremist cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri to fund his battle to stay in the country.

Speaking in the House of Commons Mr Evans said: "I vehemently oppose the decision to grant Abu Hamza al-Masri this legal aid.

"Someone who has been named by the UN Security Council as an Al-Qaeda and Taleban associate, someone who regularly preaches anti-Christian and anti-Semitic views and was recently banned from preaching at a North London mosque does not deserve British tax payers money.

"I urge the Home Secretary to do everything that is in his power to ensure that he is thrown out of this country at the earliest possible opportunity."